Recommend a 32H 26” rim

[mylofitz]

My rear wheel has buckled with the loss of 3 spokes so time for a rebuild. It has an alfine hub. Also I’m no lightweight. Unfortunately the availability of 26” rims isn’t what it used to be. Looking for recommendations for a heavy duty 32h rim that can still be purchased?

Thank you

[Bonefishblues]

(Arguably) the toughest:

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/rims-tape/r ... k-32-hole/

[gregoryoftours]

I'd second Ryde Andra 30 or Sputnik.

[simonhill]

They stopped making Sputniks a few years ago. The 'replacement ' is the Andra. Very similar build, but holes not eyeleted. You may find some Sputniks as old stock.

I put The Andra on my touring Surly when the Sputniks wore out. No problems.

[gregoryoftours]

It's a bit annoying that Sputniks are harder to get hold of in 26" size; they're as bombproof as Andras but I think because they're eyeleted can get away with being lighter. I also prefer a rim to be eyeleted.

[geocycle]

Ryde grizzly are a tad lighter than andra if you can get them. I prefer the carbide versions.

[colin54]

They still have Sputniks in 32 hole/silver at Spa at the moment, 'limited stock available' ; £25
https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m20b0s116p6 ... ik-26-inch

[mylofitz]

Thanks so much for the recommendations. It’s much appreciated.

[Bice]

I got two 26 inch Sputniks from Spa before Christmas, but went for 36H and I am 72kgs.

I think making up wheels with 36H is much easier: smaller increments on each spoke. Much stronger wheel. So if you are a bit heavier, why bother with 32H? No advantage to them at all.

Interestingly, this couple who rode London to Istanbul with quite a bit of stuff. The woman had a 32H wheel and broke spokes several times in Germany and eventually replaced with 36H wheel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYGxP1rhr-E

I have a 32H rear 700mm wheel on my commuter and it is the most prone to come out of true. All my other bikes - including two road bikes are fitted with 36H wheels and I am not changing them.

[Bice]

This thread chronicles my experience building these wheels in detail with great advice from Brucey et al: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=142401

CAUTION: Spa sells these 26 inch rims with a supposed ERD of 537mm, which is wrong. Measure it yourself, obviously. But I made it 542mm, which was correct. I am glad to have ignored nonsense from people saying I was wrong. I ordered spokes 261mm and 260mm (drive side) and these were correct.

I have given the wheels a hard work out: 37 miles off-road on Saturday. They are perfectly true.

[nsew]

I got two 26 inch Sputniks from Spa before Christmas, but went for 36H and I am 72kgs.

I think making up wheels with 36H is much easier: smaller increments on each spoke. Much stronger wheel. So if you are a bit heavier, why bother with 32H? No advantage to them at all.

Interestingly, this couple who rode London to Istanbul with quite a bit of stuff. The woman had a 32H wheel and broke spokes several times in Germany and eventually replaced with 36H wheel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYGxP1rhr-E

I have a 32H rear 700mm wheel on my commuter and it is the most prone to come out of true. All my other bikes - including two road bikes are fitted with 36H wheels and I am not changing them.

OPs bike has a 32h internal gear hub. A 26” Sputnik or Andra in 32h still makes for a very strong wheel.

[Bonefishblues]

I got two 26 inch Sputniks from Spa before Christmas, but went for 36H and I am 72kgs.

I think making up wheels with 36H is much easier: smaller increments on each spoke. Much stronger wheel. So if you are a bit heavier, why bother with 32H? No advantage to them at all.

Interestingly, this couple who rode London to Istanbul with quite a bit of stuff. The woman had a 32H wheel and broke spokes several times in Germany and eventually replaced with 36H wheel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYGxP1rhr-E

I have a 32H rear 700mm wheel on my commuter and it is the most prone to come out of true. All my other bikes - including two road bikes are fitted with 36H wheels and I am not changing them.

OPs bike has a 32h internal gear hub. A 26” Sputnik or Andra in 32h still makes for a very strong wheel.

Indeed - more than strong enough for Thorn to use on their Rohloff-equipped Exped bikes, both solo & tandem.

[Bice]

Indeed - more than strong enough for Thorn to use on their Rohloff-equipped Exped bikes, both solo & tandem.

Yes, I have heard this and not understood the reasoning (if any). Are they equipped with particularly heavy rim / spoke combinations?

Anyway the woman in the YouTube video had multiple problems with her 32H rear on a Dawes Karakum until someone sensible replaced it with a 36H. (They were taking a lot on the back, to be fair.) https://monteandkomodo.wordpress.com/gear/

I will probably make up a 32H Sputnik on my 700mm commuter to re-use the Tiagra hub at some point: it gets abused and overladen with shopping, but it is not a distance tourer. You might as well go heaviest and strongest you can get.

[nsew]

Indeed - more than strong enough for Thorn to use on their Rohloff-equipped Exped bikes, both solo & tandem.

Yes, I have heard this and not understood the reasoning (if any). Are they equipped with particularly heavy rim / spoke combinations?

Anyway the woman in the YouTube video had multiple problems with her 32H rear on a Dawes Karakum until someone sensible replaced it with a 36H. (They were taking a lot on the back, to be fair.) https://monteandkomodo.wordpress.com/gear/

I will probably make up a 32H Sputnik on my 700mm commuter to re-use the Tiagra hub at some point: it gets abused and overladen with shopping, but it is not a distance tourer. You might as well go heaviest and strongest you can get.

Rohloff (and Alfine) are dishless hubs. The Karakum’s are dished (9sp) 700c factory junk. I wouldn’t be taking my cues from a couple of holiday makers on holiday bikes.

[Bonefishblues]

Indeed - more than strong enough for Thorn to use on their Rohloff-equipped Exped bikes, both solo & tandem.

Yes, I have heard this and not understood the reasoning (if any). Are they equipped with particularly heavy rim / spoke combinations?

Anyway the woman in the YouTube video had multiple problems with her 32H rear on a Dawes Karakum until someone sensible replaced it with a 36H. (They were taking a lot on the back, to be fair.) https://monteandkomodo.wordpress.com/gear/

I will probably make up a 32H Sputnik on my 700mm commuter to re-use the Tiagra hub at some point: it gets abused and overladen with shopping, but it is not a distance tourer. You might as well go heaviest and strongest you can get.

Dish, or the lack of, makes the difference, I think. Strong rim (Andra/similar), plus a good build with strong spokes = a strong wheel (and the cushioning effect of 2+ inch tyres will help, I guess)